I recently received the most delicious smellingbox in the mail from Clean B. Detergents. Melissa, the creator behind Clean B. Detergents, sent me Vanilla Mint and Mango Papaya to try.

Is anyone else a fan of packaging as well as the product inside? The detergent comes in the most adorable brown bag tagged with your scent, the directions as well as your own scooper! Melissa was kind enough to do a Q&A with me. Here’s what she had to say.

Why did you start making detergents?I have a passion and LOVE creating my own products. I was using cloth diapers and wanted a better, "greener", fresher smelling detergent. I began researching natural earth created ingredients and how they could work with cleaning, especially cloth diapers, then began testing the amounts until I felt I had a perfect mix.

What was your first craft project? Was it a success?Actually, the first real craft project I made were cloth diapers, and the first ones were pretty bad. I got a sewing machine for my birthday and I was determined! I made a Diaper with a bulldozer on it for my now 10 year old, He was 2 then and loved it…although is wasn't functional. :o)

What is your favorite scent?OH I have SOO Many. Here's a few - Lavender Vanilla, Pink Sugar, Downy Fresh and Downy Jasmine & WaterLily Radiance. They are so soft, delicate, just Heavenly Smelling!

How long have you been making the product?2 Years in June

Do you have a favorite artisan that you follow?I really don't. I enjoy such a wide variety of arts & crafts. Cloth diapers, handmade baby items, handmade bath & body products to name a few. I do love exploring new bath & body products and getting inspired for the next bath indulgence creation.

When do you squeeze in the time for making the detergent?HA - That IS the Question I have 7 little ones, and home school 5 of them. I squeeze in detergents early in the AM, during school breaks and at naptimes. I occasionally make them in the evening when my dear husband is refereeing our little ones. :o) I never make them on Sunday That is our Church & Family day.

Do you come from a craft family or are you the only one?I really do not have a crafty family. My mom tried to teach me to sew when I was younger but I had ZERO interest. I have no other members of my family who craft. God put a tiny Spark of creativity in me, I found it one day and it has since turned into this Glowing Flame! I LOVE crafting things, especially for others. I get such a joy in giving them away, hearing of how others like them and have even found new uses for them! It never ceases to amaze me!

THE REVIEW

Pro’s – Earth friendly and cleans just as well as name brand detergents, but has a much nicer smell! She's been doing this a couple of years which is something you need to look for when buying detergents.

Con’s – None here, it did its job.

Melissa has been kind enough to provide one lucky winner a trial set with three detergents and a freshening powder in their choice of scents. Here’s how you win.

Mandatory entry – Go to Melissa’s website http://www.cleanbottomsdetergent.com/ and return to tell me your three favorite scents you hope to receive. Leave an email address in one of the comments so that I can contact you, should you win.

Bonus entry –

Follow this blog using Google Friend Connect (1 entry)

Become a fan of Clean B. Detergents on Facebook (1 entry)

Become a fan of Diaper Koozie on Facebook (1 entry)

Make a purchase from Clean B. Detergents (5 entries)

And *scroll* fine print…I was not paid for this review.

I’m a big girl & say what I want!

I did receive a free product,

but even if I paid for the product

my opinion would still be the same.

GIVEAWAY STARTS TODAY 3/17. Winner will be chosen via random.org on the morning of March 24th.

GOOD LUCK!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Have you seen this blog? www.etsyclothdiapers.blogspot.com I don't think you can make cloth diaper shopping any easier. You click on the style of diaper you prefer and it links you to the Etsy site with a fabulous list of providers.

Ba-da-boom. Ba-da-bang.

Shopping made simple!

You won't find diaperkoozie's on there just yet. I'm still waiting for my approval. No hurry... really! I have all the time in the world, the stupid sewing machine is still in the shop. *sniff*sniff*

I managed to crank out 7 different kinds of bags. I would finish one, then tweek the next one, then the next, and before I knew it I had a random stack of snack packs. Pretty simliar to my own stash though. I am a bit odd and everything has to have it's own job. There's the actual "snack" bag, then the "PB&J" bag, and so on.

Does anyone else do that?

Here's how I justify myself. If something doesn't have a job then it just sits there. By all means feel free to sit there if you're pretty. If not, you're just going to clutter. Oh wait, I take that back, even pretty things can get ugly after a while.

OK, back to clutter.

So you begin to clutter my counter, then I get irritated that I don't have space & you either go in the craigslist/Ebay bin or if I don't think you're of any value you go in the trash. Bye-Bye.

And what does this rambling have to do with snack bags? Easy. That ugly ziplock box has gots to go. That's right. Gots to go. Replace it with a pretty snack bag. This bag never turns ugly. At least at my house they don't because I've got my little Bobalu munching on something when we're out and about.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Moms were sharing recipes at baby sign class recently and here is a MUST HAVE! Take a jar of salsa and some boneless skinless chicken. Combine the two in a crock pot for 8 hours on low for the most delicious and moist chicken you will ever have. Perfect for tacos!

I've adjusted the recipe and swapped salsa for chicken broth. Now I have chicken to throw in dishes for the week. Here is meal #1 with crock pot chicken.

BBQ chicken pizza from Pampered Chef

Dear Pampered Chef,

You're cookbooks humor me every time I use them. Your placement of products throughout each receipt sends me giggling. I do not own the Ultimate Slice & Grate fitted with a v-shaped blade, but was still able to slice my onion and tomatoes with your average kitchen knife without incident. I do own your bamboo utensils and those were quite useful for mixing up this dish.

Thank you for the entertainment while I cook!

Now for the good stuff, the recipe. I've adjusted it just a bit, but here are the basics.

Grill up one large onion, 4 slices turkey bacon, and 2 garlic cloves until onion is tender and lightly browned. Stir in 1/2 cup smoky bbq sauce and remove from heat.

Stir in 2 cups cooked chicken (nicely shredded from your crock pot)

Take your pizza crust (I use the fluffy tortilla's that look like personal pizza's, but you can use whatever is your favorite.) and spread chicken mix within 1/2 inch of edge. Arrange 2 diced plum tomatoes over pizza. Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded cheddar and monterey jack cheese. Sprinkle with fresh or freeze dried parsley.

Since I use a tortilla that is already cooked, I just put in the broiler until the cheese melts. If you use pizza dough, but in the oven at 425 for about 18-22 minutes.

Do you ever hide healthy stuff in your food? I do.... beneath all the delicious bbq chicken ingredients is a nice fluffy layer of spinach. Shhhh!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Have a snack pack for your little one? I stitched some up with touchtape closure, but then saw some old school fold over style that I had to make. The style reminds me of flattened peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that my mom use to pack in my lunch in elementary school. I think the fold over is my favorite! As soon as I'm done making my own stash I'll share and put some up on Etsy.

Which one do you have? Which one do you prefer?

Might I add that these are also nice for tiny first aid kids for traveling. We went away this past weekend and I managed to fit teething tablets, tylenol, & advil in the fold over style. I made the mistake of sharing the duffel bag with my husband and daughter, so searching through clothes to look for the Heidi Grace print was quite nice & painless.